Sue Perkins to Star in New Self-Penned Comedy Series

I often get excited whenever I hear news of a glimpse of lesbian representation on TV but the idea of a comedy written by and starring Sue Perkins is like Christmas has come early!

The Great British Bake-Off host will be taking the lead role in her new comedy Heading Out, with six 30 minute episodes planned. Sue stars as Sara – a veterinarian so skilled she can spay a tortoise one-handed. She’s successful, she’s popular – there’s just one chink in her armour – she’s too scared to tell her parents she’s gay.

On the evening of her 40th birthday, Sara’s friends give her an ultimatum: either she tells her parents when they come to visit in six weeks’ time, or they will. To help Sara achieve this goal, they’ve saved up to buy a series of sessions with Toria, the eccentric and mildly-qualified lifestyle coach / therapist, and so the countdown begins...

Coming out is never an easy process for anyone so I wholeheartedly welcome a Sue Perkins comedic touch on what is often a very unsettling time for many gay and bisexual people.

Heading Out starts production in September and is due to be broadcast next year on BBC Two. The supporting cast includes Jo Scanlon, Nicola Walker, Dominic Coleman and Dawn French .

Speaking of the show, Sue Perkins told the BBC: “I think once the gnawing terror, sleepless nights and relentless self-doubt has subsided, this might well be the thing that I’m most proud of. It’s been a joy to work on, and I hope that joy proves to be infectious.” I'm sure it will, Sue, in fact the joy has already started in my house!

TV Pick for Tonight: Accused

Jimmy McGovern's award-winning series Accused returns for a second series. Each episode follows a different person's story as they await the verdict of their trial.

The new series begins with Tracie's Story as English teacher Simon's secret life as transvestite Tracie Tremarco is exposed.  

Simon Gaskell (Sean Bean) is a college English teacher who specialises in poetry. What his students don't know is that his alter ego is a transvestite called Tracie Tremarco, who is lonely and looking for love. Manchester's bars dressed up to the nines has not produced a lasting or truly fulfilling relationship however.

Then as fate would have it, Tracie falls head over heels in love in unexpected circumstances, following an altercation with some blokes out on a stag night. One of the stag revellers, Tony (Stephen Graham), a satellite and aerial engineer, comes to Tracie’s aid and offers her a lift home.

Tony and Tracie soon become smitten with each other and hesitatingly their love affair begins. But Tony has a secret too - he’s married to a local beautician, Karen (Rachel Leskovac), and he cares deeply for his wife. Before long, Tracie becomes entangled in a triangular love affair that leads inexorably to a terrible crime of passion and the dock...


Accused begins tonight on BBC1 at 9pm

Image Credit: BBC/RSJ Films